Lead operational services that save lives across Scotland.
St John Scotland is looking for an experienced Head of Operations to lead national operational delivery, service performance, operational staff and volunteer frameworks. This full-time senior leadership role is ideal for a confident operational leader who combines people skills with decisiveness, structure and calm judgement.
About the role
As Head of Operations, you will be accountable for the effective, safe and consistent delivery of St John Scotland’s operational services across Scotland. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (Senior Executive), you will provide clear operational leadership, performance management and decision-making authority.
What you’ll do
- Lead planning and delivery across Patient Transport, Public Access Defibrillators, CPR awareness and volunteering.
- Manage performance, budgets and resources within delegated authority.
- Resolve service delivery issues and escalations at the right level.
- Line manage Service Delivery Officers and future operational managers.
- Strengthen volunteer frameworks, safeguarding, risk management and assurance reporting.
- Build relationships with NHS Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and local stakeholders.
- Support continuous improvement across operational services
What we’re looking for
- Significant operational leadership experience in a complex charity, public, health or similar setting.
- Proven ability to manage staff and volunteers within clear accountability frameworks.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management and compliance.
- Experience turning strategy into disciplined delivery.
- Excellent communication skills, including confidence handling difficult conversations.
- Strong Microsoft 365 skills.
- A clean UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Scotland.
Key details
Full time, 37.5 hours per week, with occasional evening and weekend work. Edinburgh Head Office, with regular travel across Scotland and flexible working considered.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter to ***email_hidden***. A role description is available on our website - of Operations - Role Description July 2026.pdf
Closing date: 9 August, 5pm
Salary: £55,000 depending on experience
What you’ll gain
- An opportunity to lead and strengthen services that make a difference across Scotland.
- The opportunity to shape and strengthen services that save lives across Scotland.
- Supportive leadership, professional development and scope to build strong, modern operational systems.
Vacancy posted 24 days ago
Similar jobs that could be interesting for youBased on the Head of Operations in Edinburgh vacancy
£80k - £90k per annum
...Lead and manage all operational delivery functions across the business. Ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across maintenance, compliance, installation and construction activities. Oversee budgeting, resource allocation, and cost management within the operations...SuggestedPermanent- £54k - £71k per annumEstimated...are looking for an inspiring and experienced leader with strong operational expertise, commercial awareness and the ability to build high-performing... ...Joining our Place-Based Leadership Team in Edinburgh as Deputy Head of Operations. This pivotal role sits within the senior...SuggestedPermanentFull-time5 days/week
- £78k - £103k per annumEstimated...About the role: You will report directly to the Director Advanced Operations Advanced Wound Care, and you will be responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and tracking of Advanced Wound Care operational project activities, as the main interface between Science...SuggestedFull-timeHybrid workingNight shift
- £46k - £60k per annumEstimated...About the Role You will work closely with core teams on the highest impact initiatives across engineering, product, hiring, operations, and business development. As the company grows, you'll help solve new challenges, build new capabilities, and drive execution wherever...SuggestedFull-time
- £38k - £50k per annumEstimated...This is an exciting opportunity to join the Private Companies Investment Team in a pivotal operational role. You will coordinate the day-to-day operations of the team, ensuring activities, information and systems are managed effectively to enable investors to focus on identifying...SuggestedPermanentFull-timeFlexible hours
£41.6k - £52k per annum
...and evaluate current payroll processes to identify areas for improvement. Develop and implement strategies to streamline payroll operations. Ensure compliance with payroll regulations and organisational policies. Collaborate with the accounting and finance team to resolve...£30k - £32k per annum
...hosting experience while ensuring an exceptional guest stay. Reporting to the Territory Manager, you will be the engine of our local operations, responsible for the end-to-end service delivery for our portfolio of properties. This is a performance-driven role where your...Full-timeTemporaryRemoteProbationary periodFlexible hours- £47k - £61k per annumEstimated...Government public funds each year. As part of a large and complex programme of work, you will support the development and delivery of operational readiness activities for Scotland's Census 2031. You should note that Scotland’s Census is a time limited project which will run...PermanentFull-timeOn-site
- £35k - £46k per annumEstimated...Energetic multitasker who leads from the front to maintains a smooth hotel operation and inspires their team to overdeliver for guests by working hard and having fun. Maintains high standards for our guests, has an eye for detail, as well as a sound business understanding....Full-time
- £34k - £45k per annumEstimatedOCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering. Our mission is to make people...Monday to FridayFlexible hours
£30k - £40k per annum
...Operations & Logistics Coordinator Location: Edinburgh (with regular travel to Glasgow and occasional travel to Aberdeen and Cardiff) Employment Type: Full-Time Start Date: ASAP Salary : 24000 - 30000 PA Driving Licence Required About the Role...Full-timeOn-siteImmediate start- £55k - £71k per annumEstimatedRole description RR for Rebadge position Job Summary The Senior Manager will lead program management initiatives with a focus on stakeholder management project planning and project governance to ensure successful delivery of strategic programs Job Description ...Full-time
- £72k - £95k per annumEstimated...Job description Connect to your Industry Deloitte's Investment Management & Wealth Operations and Domain Solutions (IM&W ODS) team offers end-to-end transformation services to clients in the Investment Management & Wealth sector. We combine deep knowledge of the industry...Full-timeHybrid workingOn-siteImmediate startRemote
£42k - £47k per annum
..., Transport Scotland, debt collection agencies and internal stakeholders. This role requires adaptive leadership, strategic and operational redesign to deliver measurable improvements in meeting regulatory requirements, customer experience, team performance, and organisational...Full-timeOn-siteImmediate startRemoteWork from home- £64k - £83k per annumEstimatedJoin our Project Management leadership team as a Regional Director based in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen. This is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of our Scotland Project Management practice while growing our presence across the region. This senior leadership...Long-term contractPermanentFull-timeHybrid workingFlexible hours
- £69k - £90k per annumEstimatedJob Description Overview Join our Project Management leadership team as a Regional Director based in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen. This is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of our Scotland Project Management practice while growing our presence across...Long-term contractFull-timeHybrid workingFlexible hours
£32.5k per annum
...We are hiring a manager to relentlessly drive Storm's AI tooling operations forward. This role sits within our AI Operations team and is focused on the operational management of the AI tools, AI platforms, and AI-enabled workflows used across the business. It is a high-accountability...PermanentFull-timeOn-siteRemoteShift work- £45k - £57k per annumEstimatedProvide strategic and tactical oversight to a number contracts and bid activities.Drafting, negotiating and administration of complex terms and conditions of contract, working with Procurement counterparts to ensure appropriate flow through with subcontractors.Produce accurate...PermanentFull-time
- £63k - £83k per annumEstimated...strength and stability of one of the world's leading financial institutions. As we continue to grow, we're looking for a Brokerage Operations Manager to play a pivotal role in building and scaling our brokerage operations capability. This role is based on responsibilities...Long-term contract
- £39k - £51k per annumEstimated...Corporate Operations Manager - HYBRID Are you an experienced people manager with a strong finance background who thrives in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment? Our client, a well-established and respected organisation in Edinburgh, is seeking a Corporate Services...Hybrid workingOn-siteMonday to ThursdayFlexible hours
- ...methodologies from seasoned leaders. Key Responsibilities: Senior PM Support: Work hand-in-hand with the Senior PM to oversee daily operations, assist with resource allocation, and help maintain project documentation, plans, and budgets. Coordinating Deliverables:...Self-employedFreelanceOn-siteImmediate startFlexible hours
- Job description Job Title: Oracle Project Manager Location: London hybrid ( 2-3 days a week in the London client/Deloitte offices) Duration: 3 months (with potential to extend) Contract Start Date: ASAP Day rate: Competitive (Inside IR35) Deloitte ...Daily paySelf-employedFreelanceHybrid workingImmediate start
- £39k - £50k per annumEstimated...Founded in 1978, Clark Contracts Ltd is a privately owned main contractor with several operating divisions; Construction, Fit Out, Refurbishment, Housing and Maintenance. We employ over 280 people with offices in the East and West of Scotland. As our business continues...PermanentFull-time
- £44k - £57k per annumEstimated...mitigation/management plans are implemented Monitor contract and team performance providing formal monthly reports to the client and RFM Operations Manager, confirming compliance with the requirements of the contract and identifying issues for discussion, future workload, risks...Hourly payLong-term contractFull-timeFlexible hours
- £58k - £76k per annumEstimated...Senior Contracts Manager will generally be assigned the most complex, high-value and strategically significant matters. They must also operate with substantial autonomy within an agreed mandate, and help set standards, draft regional and global processes, and develop...On-site
- £58k - £76k per annumEstimated...Change in Financial Services The Role We’re looking for experienced Project Managers with deep insight into the business and operating models of wealth managers, asset managers, and investment platforms. You’ll work closely with top-tier clients on complex platform transformation...PermanentHybrid workingOn-site
- £41k - £54k per annumEstimated...Analyse HSBC business and IT processes to identify gaps and improvements needed to meet Operational Resilience requirements Design and support implementation of resilience solutions (process improvements, integration into existing controls/testing, simplification of complex...Long-term contractPermanentFull-time
- £78k - £101k per annumEstimatedA Snapshot of Your Day As a Senior Commercial Project Manager in Offshore Wind, you will take commercial ownership of large-scale customer projects and help drive them successfully from execution through to final acceptance. You will act as a project entrepreneur, ensuring...Full-timeFlexible hours
£63k - £80k per annum
...Operational Resilience and Continuity Manager Location: Edinburgh preferred, with other UK locations considered Working arrangement: Flexible hybrid working with occasional travel to Edinburgh Salary: £63,000 to £80,000 plus benefits Contract: Permanent...PermanentHybrid workingImmediate startFlexible hours- £52k - £68k per annumEstimated...driven initiatives with commercial impact, partnering closely with the IT department to sequence delivery against technical capacity. Operating across multiple business units and two markets, the Commercial Project Manager acts as the connective tissue between Sales,...Full-timeRemote
Do you want to receive more vacancies?
Subscribe and receive similar vacancies to Head of Operations. Be the first to apply!
Related searches
- airfield operations officer Edinburgh
- head of customer operations Edinburgh
- platform operations manager Edinburgh
- operations manager care homes Edinburgh
- operational excellence manager Edinburgh
- head of operations Edinburgh
- retail operations executive Edinburgh
- internal operations manager Edinburgh
- operations executive Edinburgh
- operations manager director Edinburgh